Sharks’ Greiss named Player of the Week

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Worcester Sharks goaltender Thomas Greiss has been named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 25, 2007.

Greiss was 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage to move the Sharks into fourth place in the Atlantic Division playoff race.

On Wednesday night, Greiss made 16 saves as Worcester held off Albany, 3-2, in a battle of teams fighting for playoff spots in their respective divisions. On Friday, Greiss had 38 saves in the Sharks’ 5-2 win at Hartford, and on Saturday he stopped 25 of 26 shots in a 3-1 victory over visiting Providence as Worcester extended its winning streak to five games. By week’s end, Greiss had appeared in 15 consecutive games for the Sharks, going 10-3-2 in that span.

In recognition of his achievement, Greiss will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Sharks home game. A 21-year-old rookie from Koln, Germany, Greiss was a third-round draft pick by the San Jose Sharks in 2004. In 36 games this season, Greiss owns a record of 21-13-2, and among AHL rookies he ranks second in GAA (2.51), third in wins (21) and fourth in save percentage (.914). Greiss is in his first season in North America after playing in his native Germany and representing his home country at the 2006 Olympics in Turin.